Al-Ayaam, Ramallah, August 16
The sheer number of statements made in recent weeks by Israeli officials against Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the British Labour Party, indicates that the Occupation government has decided to launch a full-scale attack against the British politician. Individuals spanning the entire political spectrum in Israel, including so-called “liberal” forces, have accused Corbyn of anti-Semitism, describing him as an “enemy of the entire Jewish people.” The accusations against Corbyn have been identical throughout the entire world, whether they came from Israeli officials, Jewish leaders in the UK, or rabbis throughout Europe. Their repetitiveness suggests that this smear campaign is far from a spontaneous wave of anger over Corbyn’s policies. Rather, it is a well-orchestrated campaign that is prepared and maintained by the Occupation government, under the guidance of Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, in an effort to challenge Corbyn’s growing popularity and Britain. Yet Corbyn is not going anywhere. He and his party have been enjoying widespread support among the British public, especially in light of Prime Minister Theresa May’s problematic policies both at home and abroad. Corbyn himself has been a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause for nearly four decades. He demonstrated his utmost commitment to freedom and justice when he voted time and again against his very own party and in favor of Palestine. He personally worked to ban Britain’s weapon sales to Israel, he promoted the boycott of Israeli products, and he conducted multiple visits to Gaza and the Palestinian Territories. In the wake of these recent accusations against him, Corbyn even published an op-ed in the Guardian, in which he vowed to uproot all anti-Semitic remnants from Britain’s Labour Party. He also confronted the Israeli prime minister, who accused him of hypocrisy, and claimed that the real hypocrisy is Israel’s killing of dozens of innocent Palestinian protesters on the Gaza border, while claiming to be the only human-rights protecting democracy in the Middle East. Corbyn is a true champion of Palestinian rights, and a dear friend of the Palestinian people. Perhaps more importantly, he is not alone: More and more European legislators today stand by the people of Palestine in their struggle against the Occupation. Unfortunately, we, Palestinians, have failed to cultivate these relations or establish meaningful connections with our allies around the world. It is up to us to build bridges with our advocates and promote our cause, before the Israeli Occupation manages to discredit them and cast doubt on their legitimacy. –Fayiz Rashid